What to binge: Netflix's best original programming

1 of 8

House of Cards

This series, a remake of a British miniseries of the same name, started it all. You couldn't blame viewers if they were skeptical when Netflix got into the original programming game, but when Hollywood A-lister Kevin Spacey signed on to play the lead role of power-hungry politician Frank Underwood, it certainly added some legitimacy to the series. Four seasons later, the show is consistently nominated for awards, with Spacey and co-star Robin Wright each winning Emmys.

PHOTO: Netflix via CNN

2 of 8

Orange is the New Black

Premiering just months after "House of Cards," this series gave Netflix another critically acclaimed series that helped give rise to the streaming service co-opting the term "binge." Audiences can't get enough of the Emmy-winning dramedy based on Piper Kerman's real-life memoir, which tells the stories of inmates and guards at a women's prison. The series has had a major influence on pop culture and also highlights social issues, featuring transgender characters and others in same-sex relationships.

PHOTO: Orange is the New Black logo

3 of 8

Bojack Horseman

This is one of the more unique series to find a home on Netflix. The setup: a former sitcom star and anthropomorphic horse (this is in a world filled with talking animals who live alongside humans) attempts to navigate his way back into Hollywood relevancy, find meaningful connections with others, cope with a wacky roommate and survive a vicious cycle of self-destruction and depression. It's absolutely hilarious.

PHOTO: Netflix via AP

4 of 8

Daredevil

Just like its superheroes, Marvel is an unstoppable force. Its box-office success carried over seamlessly to the small screen and Netflix. Debuting in 2015, the MCU's first foray on the streaming service did justice to Hell's Kitchen's blind hero-lawyer with a gritty series featuring stunning fight choreography and a strong faithfulness to the source material. Now with two seasons under its belt, "Daredevil" also kicked off an interconnected set of superhero shows, including "Jessica Jones," "Luke Cage," and the forthcoming "Iron Fist," that will culminate with the characters uniting for "The Defenders."

PHOTO: AP/Evan Agostini

5 of 8

Bloodline

Bringing together a tremendous cast of actors, including Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn and Linda Cardellini, the saga of the Rayburn clan is a brooding drama about the weight of family ties and the secrets we keep. The Florida Keys setting provides an excellent backdrop for a series that can be a slow build but ultimately proves powerful, leaving audiences ready for the next chapter.

PHOTO: AP/Rich Fury

6 of 8

Narcos

Pablo Escobar's rise to becoming the world's most-infamous drug kingpin and the DEA's mission to bring him down is a fast-paced docu-drama anchored by a strong performance in the lead role by Wagner Moura. The series strives for accuracy to go with its compelling story and largely succeeds, grabbing several award nominations.

PHOTO: Netflix via CNN

7 of 8

Master of None

Aziz Ansari, who rose to fame as a standup comic and through a standout role on "Parks and Recreation," cemented his place as one of TV's top funnymen with this clever, intelligent series that examines millennial life. From dating to being the son of immigrants, the show is certainly a jack of many trades and a masterfully entertaining watch, as well. Emmy voters agreed, awarding Ansari and Alan Yang the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

PHOTO: AP/Chris Pizzello

8 of 8

Stranger Things

A nostalgia-fueled adventure, "Stranger Things" might have been the best new show of 2016. Borrowing elements from the Steven Spielberg sci-fi epics of the '80s, the series is anchored by an extremely charming and talented group of child actors who portray a D&D-obsessed group searching for a friend who's missing in the mysterious Upside Down. Add a girl with special powers, government conspiracies, a heartbroken sheriff and a never-better Winona Ryder, and you've got a recipe for a great eight-episode ride.

This series, a remake of a British miniseries of the same name, started it all. You couldn't blame viewers if they were skeptical when Netflix got into the original programming game, but when Hollywood A-lister Kevin Spacey signed on to play the lead role of power-hungry politician Frank Underwood, it certainly added some legitimacy to the series. Four seasons later, the show is consistently nominated for awards, with Spacey and co-star Robin Wright each winning Emmys.

PHOTO: Netflix via CNN

Orange is the New Black

Premiering just months after "House of Cards," this series gave Netflix another critically acclaimed series that helped give rise to the streaming service co-opting the term "binge." Audiences can't get enough of the Emmy-winning dramedy based on Piper Kerman's real-life memoir, which tells the stories of inmates and guards at a women's prison. The series has had a major influence on pop culture and also highlights social issues, featuring transgender characters and others in same-sex relationships.

PHOTO: Orange is the New Black logo

Bojack Horseman

This is one of the more unique series to find a home on Netflix. The setup: a former sitcom star and anthropomorphic horse (this is in a world filled with talking animals who live alongside humans) attempts to navigate his way back into Hollywood relevancy, find meaningful connections with others, cope with a wacky roommate and survive a vicious cycle of self-destruction and depression. It's absolutely hilarious.

PHOTO: Netflix via AP

Daredevil

Just like its superheroes, Marvel is an unstoppable force. Its box-office success carried over seamlessly to the small screen and Netflix. Debuting in 2015, the MCU's first foray on the streaming service did justice to Hell's Kitchen's blind hero-lawyer with a gritty series featuring stunning fight choreography and a strong faithfulness to the source material. Now with two seasons under its belt, "Daredevil" also kicked off an interconnected set of superhero shows, including "Jessica Jones," "Luke Cage," and the forthcoming "Iron Fist," that will culminate with the characters uniting for "The Defenders."

PHOTO: AP/Evan Agostini

Bloodline

Bringing together a tremendous cast of actors, including Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn and Linda Cardellini, the saga of the Rayburn clan is a brooding drama about the weight of family ties and the secrets we keep. The Florida Keys setting provides an excellent backdrop for a series that can be a slow build but ultimately proves powerful, leaving audiences ready for the next chapter.

PHOTO: AP/Rich Fury

Narcos

Pablo Escobar's rise to becoming the world's most-infamous drug kingpin and the DEA's mission to bring him down is a fast-paced docu-drama anchored by a strong performance in the lead role by Wagner Moura. The series strives for accuracy to go with its compelling story and largely succeeds, grabbing several award nominations.

PHOTO: Netflix via CNN

Master of None

Aziz Ansari, who rose to fame as a standup comic and through a standout role on "Parks and Recreation," cemented his place as one of TV's top funnymen with this clever, intelligent series that examines millennial life. From dating to being the son of immigrants, the show is certainly a jack of many trades and a masterfully entertaining watch, as well. Emmy voters agreed, awarding Ansari and Alan Yang the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

PHOTO: AP/Chris Pizzello

Stranger Things

A nostalgia-fueled adventure, "Stranger Things" might have been the best new show of 2016. Borrowing elements from the Steven Spielberg sci-fi epics of the '80s, the series is anchored by an extremely charming and talented group of child actors who portray a D&D-obsessed group searching for a friend who's missing in the mysterious Upside Down. Add a girl with special powers, government conspiracies, a heartbroken sheriff and a never-better Winona Ryder, and you've got a recipe for a great eight-episode ride.

This series, a remake of a British miniseries of the same name, started it all. You couldn't blame viewers if they were skeptical when Netflix got into the original programming game, but when Hollywood A-lister Kevin Spacey signed on to play the lead role of power-hungry politician Frank Underwood, it certainly added some legitimacy to the series. Four seasons later, the show is consistently nominated for awards, with Spacey and co-star Robin Wright each winning Emmys.

PHOTO: Netflix via CNN

Orange is the New Black

Premiering just months after "House of Cards," this series gave Netflix another critically acclaimed series that helped give rise to the streaming service co-opting the term "binge." Audiences can't get enough of the Emmy-winning dramedy based on Piper Kerman's real-life memoir, which tells the stories of inmates and guards at a women's prison. The series has had a major influence on pop culture and also highlights social issues, featuring transgender characters and others in same-sex relationships.

PHOTO: Orange is the New Black logo

Bojack Horseman

This is one of the more unique series to find a home on Netflix. The setup: a former sitcom star and anthropomorphic horse (this is in a world filled with talking animals who live alongside humans) attempts to navigate his way back into Hollywood relevancy, find meaningful connections with others, cope with a wacky roommate and survive a vicious cycle of self-destruction and depression. It's absolutely hilarious.

PHOTO: Netflix via AP

Daredevil

Just like its superheroes, Marvel is an unstoppable force. Its box-office success carried over seamlessly to the small screen and Netflix. Debuting in 2015, the MCU's first foray on the streaming service did justice to Hell's Kitchen's blind hero-lawyer with a gritty series featuring stunning fight choreography and a strong faithfulness to the source material. Now with two seasons under its belt, "Daredevil" also kicked off an interconnected set of superhero shows, including "Jessica Jones," "Luke Cage," and the forthcoming "Iron Fist," that will culminate with the characters uniting for "The Defenders."

PHOTO: AP/Evan Agostini

Bloodline

Bringing together a tremendous cast of actors, including Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn and Linda Cardellini, the saga of the Rayburn clan is a brooding drama about the weight of family ties and the secrets we keep. The Florida Keys setting provides an excellent backdrop for a series that can be a slow build but ultimately proves powerful, leaving audiences ready for the next chapter.

PHOTO: AP/Rich Fury

Narcos

Pablo Escobar's rise to becoming the world's most-infamous drug kingpin and the DEA's mission to bring him down is a fast-paced docu-drama anchored by a strong performance in the lead role by Wagner Moura. The series strives for accuracy to go with its compelling story and largely succeeds, grabbing several award nominations.

PHOTO: Netflix via CNN

Master of None

Aziz Ansari, who rose to fame as a standup comic and through a standout role on "Parks and Recreation," cemented his place as one of TV's top funnymen with this clever, intelligent series that examines millennial life. From dating to being the son of immigrants, the show is certainly a jack of many trades and a masterfully entertaining watch, as well. Emmy voters agreed, awarding Ansari and Alan Yang the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

PHOTO: AP/Chris Pizzello

Stranger Things

A nostalgia-fueled adventure, "Stranger Things" might have been the best new show of 2016. Borrowing elements from the Steven Spielberg sci-fi epics of the '80s, the series is anchored by an extremely charming and talented group of child actors who portray a D&D-obsessed group searching for a friend who's missing in the mysterious Upside Down. Add a girl with special powers, government conspiracies, a heartbroken sheriff and a never-better Winona Ryder, and you've got a recipe for a great eight-episode ride.

What to binge: Netflix's best original programming

Chill and watch these great original shows from the popular streaming service

It's hard to believe Netflix was once little more than a video store that came a few DVDs at a time via the mailman.

Since its founding in 1997, the company has become a worldwide phenomenon, breaking ground in streaming entertainment online. It now claims 86 million members in over 190 countries, with users taking in more than 125 million hours of shows and movies daily.

Oh, and no commercials.

Netflix got into the production business in 2013, drawing some of Hollywood's finest talent with "House of Cards," and it hasn't looked back. Today, the company's newest high-profile series debuts, an adaptation of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" starring Neil Patrick Harris.

As Netflix continues its march to the top of the TV pyramid, here's a look at some of the company's best original offerings.